Get unlimited access to the latest travel industry news and analysis, comment on articles and sign up to newsletters.
Register for free
Already registered? Login here or below.
Having difficulty logging in? Try these tips, or contact support@flymy.co.uk
The literature of James Joyce, a pioneering industrial past and nightlife to rival the planet’s most hedonistic cities make Ireland a popular bucket list destination. Andrew Doherty learns more.
As the nation celebrates an excellent year in tourism terms I caught up with Vanessa Markey, head of Great Britain for Tourism Ireland, to find out what’s in store for 2017.
“This year [2016] was the best ever for visitors from Great Britain. We’ve had three million in total. From January to September 2016 we saw a 12% jump; that’s an increase of 800,000 on the same period in 2015.”
Markey added that the bookings boom is predicted to continue with an estimated 3% visitor increase and a projected revenue gain of £423 million.
Adding to Ireland’s allure is a host of upcoming developments with new Belfast hotels in the pipeline.
“We’ve had challenges in terms of capacity both in the north and the south because of the sheer number of tourists coming. In Belfast we are expecting 1,000 more hotel rooms to be built over the next year and into 2018.”
One exciting project is the Harland & Wolff HQ and Drawing Offices; a multimillion-pound conversion of the shipping company’s headquarters, where the Titanic was designed, into an 84-room boutique hotel set to open this year. Northern Ireland’s capital will also welcome a Marriott International property, the 188-room four-star AC Hotel by Marriott, in the City Quays development in early 2018.
In the Republic of Ireland, the £10 million refurbishment of The Old Jameson Distillery is set to make waves when the venue reopens in March 2017.
“This will be a super attraction in Dublin. Whiskey tourism is fantastic for us. We get around 600,000 tourists visiting our distilleries each year,” Markey said.
Maintaining relationships with the trade will play a significant role for Tourism Ireland with fam trips and road shows throughout 2017-18.
“We want to change the perception people have of Ireland. Since we are so close to Great Britain, people see us as a domestic destination; people believe we are quite similar.”
Yet the future seems bright; in 2019 the north coast town of Portrush will host The 148th Open golf championship and the island may host the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
“The Irish welcome is a huge enhancement factor. There is uniqueness about the Irish in terms of their friendliness, openness and warmth,” said Markey.
With all these developments, the locals will have even more opportunity to prove it.
